A local organization dedicated to celebrating and honoring the Italian-American community in Lima and surrounding counties hopes to reboot and restart activities after nearly two years of pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Charitable Italian American Organization of Lima — known to many around the region as CIAO of Lima — was founded decades ago when the Milano Cafe was located on Main Street in downtown Lima.

Current president Doug Wise said no one has the specific date of founding of the organization, but he said it was “a long, long time ago.” Wise is one of many in the region with Italian heritage, explaining he has ancestors from Italy as well as Germany and French Canada.